We just received some unofficial (official) information from a T-Mobile source related to their support of the Nexus One. I haven’t seen this posted anywhere, so I am getting it up as quick as I can and will add more info in a second.

Rate Plan & Offer Facts

1Q – Who determines eligibility for handset discounts on the Nexus One Phone?
1A – The Nexus One Phone is sold solely through Google. Google has selected the account types that are eligible for a handset discount.

2Q – A customer recently upgraded to a Nexus One Phone. Why did their rate plan change to the $39.99 Even More +Text +Web = $79.99?
2A – To receive a discounted device customers are required to change their rate plans to the Google offer; $39.99 Even More + Text + Web = $79.99 MCR. Customers may upgrade their rate plan to another Even More option if they choose.

3Q – What if an eligible new or existing customer does not want to change their rate plan to the $39.99 Even More +Text +Web = $79.99 MCR?
3A – The customer can purchase the device only at full cost.

5Q – What is the warranty on the Nexus One Phone?
5A – 12 months. Google / Nexus One Phone Support (HTC) will offer support in regards to warranty and exchanges., please refer to Support Call Handling.

6Q – Why is PHP not available on the Nexus One Phone?
6A – The Nexus One Phone is sold solely through Google. PHP is not available for handsets not sold by T-Mobile.

7Q – Is EIP available for the purchase of the Nexus One?
7A – No, Since it’s not sold through T-Mobile.

8Q – What if the customer is eligible for a handset upgrade but Google’s purchase path states they are ineligible?
8A – Nexus One Phone upgrade eligibility is only available for Individual-Regular single line rate plan customers. If the customer feels they should be eligible to receive an equipment discount and Google’s website says otherwise; apologize for the inconvenience and inform the customer that the Nexus One Phone is sold solely through Google. Google owns the purchase path and determines eligibility for handset upgrade and pricing.

Device Facts
Using the T-Mobile G1 & myTouch as a comparison, what are some new and exciting hardware / software features that customers should know about?
New hardware including;
Qualcomm QSD8250, 1 GHz processor
Memory: ROM: 512 MB RAM: 512 MB
Display: Capacitive touch screen 3.7-inch OLED 480×800 Visual WVGA resolution
New software Android 2.1 (Eclair) including;
“Car Home” app using GPS and Navigation
Microsoft Exchange support (E-mail and contacts)
Built in flash support for Camera
Face book app
Live Wallpaper
Multiple different languages support
Back up my data feature

- Is T-Mobile the exclusive carrier of the Nexus One Phone?
Yes, at this time the device will be exclusive to T-Mobile.

Taylor is the founder of Android and Me. He resides in Dallas and carries the Samsung Galaxy S 4 and HTC One as his daily devices. Ask him a question on Twitter or Google+ and he is likely to respond. | Ethics statement

Most Tweeted This Week

Lame. I am currently on the Even More Plus plan, so no contract. Looks like in order to get this phone at a reasonable price I will need to cancel my wife and I’s current plan with TMO, then get new service through Google, then change the plan again? WTF? I hope this information is wrong.

Why would anyone switch to the subsidized low cost now just to end up paying $130 more in the long run for it? And I don’t want to hear about how expensive it is up front. If you don’t have the money, what are you doing buying a smartphone at all? Save the extra per month until you have some savings built up.

The Even More Plus plan is $20 per month cheaper than the equivalent Even More plan… $20 per month over a two year contact is $480, plus the $180 initial cost = $660.

That is why I will be paying $530 now and going with whatever Even More Plus plan I want and still saving in the process….

Except if you qualify for a corporate discount and the Even More Plus plan doesn’t qualify for discounts. Now you are stuck with only 500 minutes. It is amazing how they could figure out a way to ruin their chances to actually grow in the marketplace with the introduction of an exciting new phone.

Sort of true, I currently apply a corporate discount to my Even More Plus Plan (not the N1 plan). I can only apply it to the text and web parts of the plan, not the talk. It comes out to be a modest discount but a discount nonetheless.

The $530 price is not out of line with the Even More Plus plans: The higher rates on the contact prices make up the difference between the subsidized and unsubsidized prices. So, you’re basically paying the full price one way or another.

The difference is the case of family plans IMO. My wife is fine with a plain ol’ phone but she would like a new one. Shelling out full price for such a phone changes the price difference for the Nexus One.

I’m been out of contract with TMo for more than 2 months, waiting to see what new phones come up. I was fine with getting a myTouch, but I’m having a hard time with that choice now.

Not even sort of. If you want the phone on your existing plan, pay full price. If you want it on a new plan, you can have it subsidized. It’s really simple, and since I’m 100% certain you are not being forced to be the phone, no one is being ‘screwed’.

Subsidized phone prices has led otherwise intelligent people to act like complete goobers about unsubsidized pricing.. “OMG I’m like SOOO getting screwed!?!”

If this is the correct price plan I will be passing on this phone. I have 4 lines on Even More Plus, it is just not worth it for me to switch my plan for this phone. Ill just wait for the next Android that I can purchase using EIP. Personally I think this is a Fail for Google, if true…

I agree, which sucks. I was really looking forward to this phone but having to switch plans and all seems excessive to get a phone down to 200 bucks.
Maybe, just maybe if no one buys the Nexus One for a while the price will drop.

(guess we still have a couple hours before we find out if this is all true though huh?)

I’m baffled at this rate plan limitation! I’m currently on a MyFaves family plan (2 lines). The way it sounds, you can’t be on a family plan at all with this phone. (Or even at best, I’d have to switch away from my grandfathered MyFaves)

Why does Google get to choose what plans are eligible for subsidy? How does that affect them at all? Is t-mobile giving them a kick back for the 79.99 plan, so then Google will subsidize for that plan only?

I’ve just looked at google.com/phone and I’m not eligible for an upgrade (got my G1 14 months ago). I wonder if any G1 owners will be eligible for an upgrade, or if you must be 22 months into a contract to qualify for subsidy. Also, my existing plan is much better than the one required for Nexus One.

its too bad that the original Android users may be facing a steep upgrade for the next-generation HTC phone. Great phone, but too expensive.

The trick for getting the $350 discount (as opposed to only $250) is to request a new number. After you select “No, I want to modify my existing individual plan with T-Mobile.”, select “I want a new phone number for my new line of service.” instead of the upgrade my current phone option. And no, transferring your t-mobile phone doesn’t work.

Ok, we will subsidize the newest top of the line phone in the world, but only if you change your plan to one thats going to fuck you over.

I pay around $85 a month for unlimited EVERYTHING on a mytouch 3g.

The nexus one is a nerds phone. And thats not a negative thing. Its aimed at people who are obsessed with their phones like me. Do you really think people who are all on unlimited plans at this point are going to pay the same amount for 500 minutes?

500 minutes? Does 1998 ring a bell? Who the hell is on a 500min /month plan in 2010 ??? STUPID. Tmobile is expecting a shit ton of overage fees from all the dummies who think they can make 500 minutes work every month.

Oops. I mean 9000 message and I am on unlimited loyalty plan. I am tempted but damn, another 530 Dollars…*sigh*…better wait until another vendor bring another 1G processor..Come on I dont believe Google will be the only one.

I agree. Limiting their plans is a mistake. Overages will bring in some revenue, but it’s chump change compared to bring in the business customers, or the number of people that switch carriers due to the iphone. The iphone caused consumers to switch to AT&T in droves that wont work for T-mobile. It will take more than just an iphone replacement to get them to switch back. I think T-mobile is missing this opportunity, but I also think Verizon will capitalize once it comes out in the spring on their carrier. Their commercials claim they are listening to what consumers want hence the ever more and ever more plus plans, but it is obvious from this decision they are pretty well out of touch. They really need to offer more to stay competitive given their already small network and coverage. Though Verizon I don’t think will make the same mistake, and I think they will actually start stealing back some iphone users that like the open forum of android.
Unfortunately, what should be a major opportunity for T-mobile to gain some market share is being wasted. There is a reason why T-mobile 4th in the US market, and that is because they continuely make 4th class business decisions.

Does T-Mobile even have the network capacity to handle all of the Data usage that the Nexus will undoubtedly be burying them with. Another AT&T developing here? Perhaps the minimal level of the plan is an effort to keep phone sales & new accounts high, but actual usage low?

I agree with those that not offering the subsidized price on Family plans is totally bogus. Why penalize customers for being loyal and getting groups of people as T-Mobile customers? Why penalize me for having a family?

Google is moving down in the stack to challenge B2C opponents with an open architecture and new sets of standards. In creating a post-revenue business model, Google can only manage success if consumers accept a co-branding and outsourced manufactured device … NQ Logic recommends reading about the rest of the new Google’s mobile strategy at http://www.nqlogic.com

I being trying to buy the phone and get the discount but google says I am don’t qualify. i can Tmobile and they say I do qualify but I need to call Google they gave me this number: 1888 716-0479 I talk to a google person and they say is Tmobile issue. GOD I whish Verizon was in the business that way I can leave Tmobile for ever!!!

“2A — To receive a discounted device customers are required to change their rate plans to the Google offer; $39.99 Even More + Text + Web = $79.99 MCR. CUSTOMERS MAY UPGRADE THEIR RATE PLAN TO ANOTHER EVEN MORE OPTION IF THEY CHOOSE.”

Hard to understand what all the whining is about. Is it the word “upgrade” that’s got all you ninnies in a snit? Or perhaps “choose?” If 500 minutes aren’t enough, then you can CHOOSE to UPGRADE.

I see that reading comprehension is in as fine a state as ever. Yay education.

Except it states the information listed is unofficial (official) information. No where in the T-Mobile Terms & Conditions of Service does it make that customer upgrade statement. Also, after calling T-Mobile the only plan they said available was the 500 minute plan listed on the Nexus One sales page. Certainly, T-Mobile could make changes to include the upgrade statement, however it is not currently stated. So did you miss the word unofficial in your keen reading comprehension?

I agree…I spoke w/ a T-mobile agent, who confirmed with her manager (she didn’t know anything about Nexus one plan), that if you get Nexus One with subsidy, then your only choice of plan is the 500 minute plan.

As mentioned previously, if you buy the phone at full price, then you get any of their currently offered plan.

I was also totally stoked about this phone until running through the wringer of ‘eligibility’ tells me I have to pay the un-subsidized price, despite advice to the contrary from T-Mobile folks I’ve spoken to. Clearly there is a huge breakdown here.

For those of you on the Even More Plus plan who are crying about the price of the phone.. the Even More Plus plan is centered around unsubsidized phones! Didn’t you know that when you signed, or did you just think T-mobile was giving you $20 off every month for giggles?

This has to be one of the most idiotic moves by a cell carrier yet. Essentially, none of their existing customers will be getting the phone. Also, if you are with another carrier, are you going to switch and be limited to 500 minutes? No. So, no existing customer and no new customers. Brilliant thinking.

PS – I was just at a tmobile store and they thought they knew about this, but didn’t have a clue. Good work tmobile.

Ok, so it says the price of the new billing plan from TMO would be $39.99 Even More +Text +Web = $79.99?. Can anyone confirm that this is true since the price was printed with a ? not knowing if is true or not. Also with the Text and Web is that unlimited for both?

From what I just read, you can sign up for the Nexus’s single line plan, then roll it back into your existing Family plan with no penalty. It’s the same situation you face when getting a new phone. Upgrade, get a new line, or buy it outright. Unless I’m missing something, and there’s a backcharge for changing the plan post sale, this doesn’t seem all that different from getting a phone in general, and I work for T-Mobile.

I heard that if you buy nexus 1 phone at full price $530.00, tmobile will not acitvate even more plus plan with no contract. You would have to sign up for 24 month contract $80.00 plan and then cancel your contract by paying $200 ETF early termination fee. Then you will be eligible to signup for even more plus (no contract) plan.

Is this true ?

Is there anyone in the group who paid full price and signed up for Even More Plus plan with no contract ????

welcome to the world of unlocked phones! the N1 IS UNLOCKED you can have any plan on any network and IT WILL WORK! I have a T-mo even more plus family plan and it works fine. I inserted a globe sim card from the philippines and the phone worked fine. WELCOME TO THE WORLD OF UNLOCKED PHONES YOU NORTH AMERICAN CARRIER SLAVES!